The materials that make up the large spaces in a home, such as flooring, tile, decking and wallcoverings, serve as a foundation for the home’s functionality, aesthetic and maintenance level. The choices made when building or renovating affect how often you will have to repair, replace or refinish flooring, tile, decking and even landscaping. These products don’t just affect maintenance and aesthetics; when you choose sustainable materials, they have a positive impact on the environment and ensure your home is free of toxic preservatives that can impact your family’s health.
Harrison Davis, founder and CEO of European Company, grew up in the interior design and construction industries, so he understands these principles better than anyone. “When I created European Company, my goal was to bring high-quality, sustainable, maintenance-free products to the market,” he says. “Our mission is to offer products that make life easier for our clients and are healthier and more cost-effective than traditional materials.”
European manufacturers have higher quality and sustainability standards than U.S. manufacturers, and Atlanta-based European Company brings these products to the North American market. The company offers sustainable, low-maintenance flooring, tile, wallcoverings, decking and landscape products from the industry’s most innovative manufacturers and is the only company supplying these products to the U.S. market.
One of its most popular options, engineered wood flooring, is composed of a thin hardwood top layer (called a wear layer) over layers of strengthened composite wood. Engineered wood looks like solid wood but is less expensive and easier to install, and it isn’t as sensitive to temperature fluctuations as solid wood. It can also be placed directly over concrete without the need for subflooring.
The lumber for European Company’s engineered wood comes from a farm just outside of Bordeaux, France, which maintains sustainability practices such as cutting and planting trees simultaneously and imposing limits on how many trees can be harvested. The farm’s climate gives the wood a unique level of tannins, allowing it to absorb more stain than any other flooring. Planks are constructed with square-beveled edges and ends that give each the appearance of solid wood.
Each type has various depths of wear layers, which allows them to be re-sanded and refinished several times. “It’s a great choice for sustainability because we use every part of the tree when we cut it,” Davis says. “We’re able to put the best pieces of wood on top, which isn’t the case with solid wood flooring. It’s also very user-friendly. We’ve had over 100 interior designers move in and out of our show houses, and we’ve never had a scratched floor.”
The company offers engineered wood in unfinished and prefinished. “The prefinished wood has nine coats of varnish. It’s great for commercial buildings, high-end beach houses and homes with kids. Your dogs can run on them and never scratch them. Since COVID, they all have an antimicrobial added,” Davis says.
The company also offers a sustainable style of reclaimed wood created by kiln-drying wood to zero moisture and then adding moisture back into it. “It has a bush hammered finish, which gives it the look of old, textured wood, but you’re not tearing down historic buildings to take the wood out of them,” Davis says.
The same engineered and reclaimed wood can also be used as wallcoverings. “The nice thing is they can be made 12 feet long, and they’re tongue and groove. You can install it without face nails, unfinished, and let it patina as it oxidizes,” he adds. The European wood collection has design choices that range from whitewashed “Blanc de Chaux” to warm honey and walnut tones.
When it comes to durability, it’s hard to beat luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. European Company’s high-quality options resemble authentic hardwood flooring, right down to the color, grain pattern and knotting. Planks are made using an innovative process that reclaims limestone dust, which means LVP planks are very strong and can be completely submerged without damage. The company partners with Dutch manufacturer Hamat to provide LVP options up to 72 inches long. Planks click into place, so installing them as a DIY project is possible. “If you have kids or pets, this is the best flooring,” Davis says. “It can take the worst abuse and still look great.” Because of its durability, LVP is a popular option for second homes, beach homes, rentals and commercial buildings.
Porcelain pavers are popular for outdoor hardscaping, patios, pool decks and walkways. Invented in Italy, these pavers are made from porcelain clay with a high-glaze finish. They are impervious to stains and don’t get hot in the sun, nor do they crack, fade, mold or require sealing. They also don’t freeze, so they’re perfect for outdoor use in cold climates. Porcelain pavers are an incredibly environmentally friendly option because they don’t require sealers or glues.
Another eco-friendly option for outdoors is concrete pavers. European Company’s offerings are made in France with a durable concrete base and a limestone dust top. “Our concrete pavers are very Old World; you can even see the rocks embedded,” Davis says. “They’re a great affordable option and can really bring down the overall costs for someone who wants a natural stone look. It’s also sustainable; all the powder used is limestone byproduct, so it’s half the price of other pavers.” The company also offers a range of natural stone pavers in marble, limestone and travertine in custom sizes that can be leathered, honed, bush hammered or sandblasted.
Davis is seeing increasing demand for artificial turf among homeowners who want low-maintenance options. “Artificial grass is a no-brainer when you can’t grow grass or you don’t want to maintain a lawn in your first or second home,” he says. “All of our products have some kind of biodegradable element. Artificial grass is made with plant-based materials and polymers, so you’re not just putting plastic into the earth.”
European Company sources artificial grass from GrassPartners, an independent Dutch company with innovative, sustainable products. “Artificial grass has become very, very popular,” Davis says. “People are using it to cut down on maintenance and water use, and you don’t need a mower or a blower. It has a 15-year warranty, which is great if you’re someone who has to replace your sod every year. It’s not inexpensive, but you’ll get a full return in three to four years.”
European Company doesn’t have a showroom; instead, it keeps costs down for the consumer by working with architects, developers, dealers, builders and designers. The company participates in several show houses yearly, including Kips Bay in Dallas, Flower Show House, Aspire Show House and more. This year, its Atlanta show house project is the 1940s-era home of golfer Bobby Jones.
“We test our products with real families,” says Davis, who is a new father. “Our wood, stone and grass products give clients all the tools they need to live a maintenance-free lifestyle. It brings a sustainable, high-quality European product to the U.S. market at great prices.” *
Robin Howard is a freelance writer in Charleston. See more of her work at robinhowardwrites.com.
